Standardized Shoe Heel Attachment Mechanism

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of a housing unit ( 12 ) containing a spring-loaded button plate ( 14 ), which slides to the rear of the unit ( 12 ) creating a dual chamber opening ( 34 ). The heelpiece ( 20 ) has a dual pronged appendage ( 16 ) at its top flat surface. When the heelpiece appendage ( 20 ) is nudged into the bottom of the unit ( 12 ), the partially open chambers are coaxed fully open, allowing full insertion of the heelpiece ( 20 ) into said unit ( 12 ). The heelpiece ( 20 ) is locked in place for ready wear. The heelpiece ( 20 ) is removed from said unit ( 12 ) by pushing the release button ( 18 ). This action slides the button plate ( 14 ) to the rear of the unit ( 12 ) opening the dual chambers ( 34 ) for quick removal of the heelpiece ( 20 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND Prior Art CITATIONS

US181109 Aug. 15, 1876 Improvement in heels US1516355 Nov. 18, 1924 Detachable shoe heel US1604826 Oct. 26, 1926 Removable heel US2139885 Dec. 13, 1938 Removable heel US2224476 Dec. 10, 1940 Footwear heel fastener US2439310 Apr. 06, 1948 Detachable heel US2707341 May 03, 1955 Shoes with convertible heels US2852866 Sep. 23, 1958 Shoe heel mounting US2943404 Jul. 05, 1960 Replaceable heel construction US3266177 Aug. 16, 1966 Adjustable heel for shoes US3782010 Jan. 01, 1974 Detachable heel for shoes US3805418 Apr. 23, 1974 Adjustable heel apparatus US4198770 Apr. 22, 1980 Device for fixing heels US4219946 Sep. 02, 1980 Shoe with a interchangeable heel US4443956 Apr. 24, 1984 Shoe replaceable heel kit US4670996 Jun. 09, 1987 Womens shoes with flexible height US4805320 Feb. 21, 1989 Shoe with exchangeable heel US5079857 Jan. 14, 1992 Shoe having a detachable heel US5133138 Jul. 28, 1992 Replaceable high heel US5309651 May 10, 1994 Fabulous Feet Inc. Transformable shoe US5347730 Sep. 20, 1994 Colon Low heel shoe convertible to high heel and vice versa with an... US5519950 May 28, 1996 Wang Structure for engaging a heel to a shoe US5524365 Jun. 11, 1996 Goldenberg Shoe with exchangeable heel US5615497 Apr. 01, 1997 Meschan Athletic shoe with improved sole US6021586 Feb. 08, 2000 Bucalo et. al. Adjustable heel assembly and shoe including the same US6023858 Feb. 15, 2000 Reflections Shoe Two-piece shoe bottom system US6711835 Mar. 30, 2004 Militello Shoe and replaceable heel US7168184 Jan. 30, 2007 Wallin Shoes US7185448 Mar. 06, 2007 Schupbach Shoes with interchangeable heel members US7578075 Aug. 25, 2009 Kemp Collapsible shoe and methods for making and using same US7770306 Aug. 10, 2010 Lyden Custom article of footwear US7877902 Feb. 01, 2011 Pieriboni Footwear with variable configuration heel US7954256 Jun. 07, 2011 Colella Interchangeable footwear system and method US8069583 Dec. 06, 2011 Simchuk Shoe with replacement sole cartridges US8112906 Feb. 14, 2012 NIKE, Inc. Article of footwear with interchangeable heels Patents: Publication number US2001/0052195 Blakey Convertible shoe ensemble US2004/0128860 Smaldone et.al. Article of footwear having a sole structure with adjustable characteristics US2006/0101670 Bucalo Self stabilizing adjustable dihedral heel assembly and shoe . . . US2008/0184598 Handel Adjustable height high heel shoe US2010/0146817 Crispo Footwear having adjustable height heel and method thereof US2010/0083537 Weirda et. al. Sub-assembly for incorporation into a shoe having an adjustable heel The above citations show references to related but not relevant patents granted for shoes having adjustable heels. I am unaware of any applications granted that closely resemble this one submitted herewith.

SUMMARY

A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism allowing a person wearing a pair of shoes with this property, to change the heel height of both shoes whenever they choose, and for whatever reasons, which may include comfort or styling. The styling of this shoe mechanism includes a low, medium and high heelpiece option. The alternate heelpieces may be carried in a customized pouch with the person for their ease of alternating the heel height at any moment of their day or evening. The mechanism functions with a push of a release button on the housing unit that disengages the heelpiece in use. That heelpiece is removed and the newly selected replacement heelpiece is placed into the dual opening chambers inside the housing unit with a quick and easy motion of insertion.

Advantages

-   -   1. The heels can be changed quickly and easily.     -   2. The heels can be changed without tools.     -   3. Different size heels can be used without changing shoes; i.e.         low, medium and high height heelpieces.     -   4. The heels are small and easy to carry in a custom, fitted         pouch.     -   5. The heels can range from flat to the currently fashionable         150 cm.     -   After considering the drawings and following description, other         advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent.

DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1A-1C shows the overall view of the 3 varied height heelpieces with the housing unit engaged.

FIG. 1D shows the housing unit with the release button pushed and in the dual opening chamber position.

FIG. 2A-2B shows the singular heelpieces with the dual engaging and hooking feature for the high and medium heels.

FIG. 2C shows a side view of the low heel engaged with the housing unit.

FIG. 3A is a close up view of the front and topside of the housing unit in use with the low heel employed via the dual engaging and hooking feature.

FIG. 3B shows a view of the housing unit from the bottom side where the heelpieces engage and hook with the button plate.

FIG. 3C shows a view of the topside of the housing unit, the button plate and dual opening chambers as well as where 4 screws (32) attach the unit to the actual shoe.

FIG. 3D provides a view of the inside layout of the housing unit, level 1 and level 2, without the button plate and the cover/base plate.

FIG. 4 shows another angle of the medium heel with the dual engaging and hooking feature.

FIG. 5 offers a view of the low heel with dual engaging and hooking feature.

FIG. 6 shows the design of the button plate, the location of the 2 springs for the spring-released button action, as well as the release button.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   10 cover/base plate     -   12 housing unit     -   14 button plate     -   16 dual engaging and hooking feature     -   18 release button     -   20 varied height heelpieces; a, b, c     -   22 level 1     -   24 cutout     -   26 springs     -   28 screws     -   30 level 2     -   32 screws     -   34 dual opening chambers     -   36 rest position     -   38 open chamber position

DESCRIPTION

This invention is a mechanism that allows the heelpiece of a shoe to be changed without the use of tools. The mechanism consists of six components, not including screws FIG. 1A-C. The heelpiece, locked into the housing unit 12, is released by pressing a spring-loaded release button 18. The unit 12 contains the button plate 14 and 2 springs 26. Items 20.a, 20.b, 20.c are the varied height heelpieces. The base plate 10 is a cover plate 10 on the unit 12 and acts to constrain the 2 springs 26 and button plate 14. The button plate is seated in the unit 12, level 1 22. The button plate 14 will slide back and forth inside the unit 12. The button plate 14 is shaped such that it has dual opening chambers 34 that receive the dual engaging and hooking feature 16, attaching the heelpiece 20 and locking it securely into the unit 12. The heelpiece 20 is made with a corresponding dual hooking and engaging feature 16 that is captured by the dual opening chambers 34 in the button plate 14. The 2 springs 26 hold the button plate 14 in the locked, rest position 36 FIG. 1A-C. When the release button 18 is pushed, the heelpiece 20 is unhooked and can be removed from chambers inside the unit 12 FIG. 1D. A different heelpiece 20 is then inserted into the unit 12. This action snaps the button plate 14 into the rest position 36. The heelpiece 20 is now locked securely into the unit 12.

Operation

A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism is operated by holding the housing unit 12 in one hand and the heelpiece 20 in the other hand. The flat side of the heelpiece 20 will be aligned with the flat side of the unit 12 (FIG. 1A-C). By inserting the 2 pronged dual engaging and hooking feature 16 on the heelpiece 20 (FIG. 2A-B) into the corresponding dual opening chambers 34 (FIG. 3B) on the bottom side of the unit 12, using an urging motion, the dual hooking feature 16 on the heelpiece 20 automatically pushes the button plate 14 to the rear of the unit 12 (FIG. 6, 3C). The button plate 14 is nudged and moved backwards automatically by the tips of the dual hooking feature 16, becoming 2 fully opened chambers 34, 38 for the complete insertion of the dual feature 16 on the heelpiece 20. Once the dual hooking feature prongs 16 are over, past, the button plate 14, the heelpiece 20 is fully inserted into the unit 12. The button plate 14 is thereby automatically released to slide back to its rest position 36, which is also locking position. A snap back into lock position (FIG. 1A-C) occurs once the heelpiece 20 is fully inserted. To release the heelpiece 20 one pushes with one's finger the release button 18 (FIG. 1D, 6), which is protruding thru the cutout 24 of the unit 12 (FIG. 3D). It is one piece with the button plate 14 and is located on the flat side of the unit 12. This action pushes the button plate 14 backwards, pinching the 2 springs 26 located behind the button plate 14 (FIG. 6) inside and towards the back of the unit 12, thereby creating the dual opening chambers 34 within the unit 12. Holding the release button 18 holds the button plate 14 in this open position, whereby both chambers 34 are fully open (FIG. 1D). The heelpiece 20 is then pulled out of said dual chambers 34 created by this action and is fully disengaged from the unit 12. Letting go of the release button 18 uncoils the 2 springs 26 behind the button plate 14 allowing the button plate 14 to slide automatically back into rest position 36. The button plate 14 slides, snaps, back to rest position 36 where the springs 26 are uncoiled and are also in rest position 36 (FIG. 1A-C).

Advantages

-   -   (a) This mechanism is quick, easy and simple in its design,         construction and use.     -   (b) The heelpiece itself can take on infinite variations of         styling and design from height to contour as a result of the         standardized attachment mechanism being localized to the top,         flat end of the heelpiece thus having no impact or interference         on the heel design itself.     -   (c) The dual engaging and hooking feature and the housing unit         can take on various corresponding sizes and dimensions relevant         to the shoe and its heel base on the outsole.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

-   -   All of the standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism parts can         be manufactured using various materials, which would include         metals, plastics, woods and resins. This would apply to any and         all parts in various combinations of materials within said         mechanism, excluding screws, which will be composed of metal.     -   The said parts, being constructed out of said materials, embody         durability and strength and thereby the safety of locking         securely in place.     -   Women potentially keep and wear their shoes for a very long         time. This mechanism has only one moving part, the springs. For         longevity purposes, any number of springs can be housed behind         the button plate for use in the unit for purposes of durability         and wear and tear. Replacing the springs is the only repair that         would potentially require action. This is not a quick fix.         Therefore, ensuring the quality and longevity of the springs is         of utmost importance. 

1. A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism, comprising: a. a housing unit containing and seating a spring-loaded slidable plate, b. varied height heelpieces with a hooking feature, c. means for capturing, securing and releasing said heelpieces within and from said unit. d. multi-directional in that the slidable plate and other features can be designed and constructed to function from front to back, back to front, or side to side. 